Latch mechanism



July 12,1927.

` LEDWINKA LATGH MEcHANIsM Filed Nov. 16,1925

2 Sheets--Shieerl 2y .I 5i) 'locking` device of the enemies .my ia, isa?.

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F PHILDELPHIA, PENNSYLVAN, ASSIGNOB vT0 EDWARD Gior rENNsrLvANm.'

LATCH. macnnmsn.

implication` iled'ovemhei' 16, 1925. aerial No. 69344,

vThis latch mechanism finds its utility in connection with automobile bodies of the closed body type. ln'bodics of this type, it

is desired that there be provided the very maximum Width of Window pane in the door consistent with adequate strength .of the door frame and further that the Width of the door posts also be reduced to the minimum consistent with strength. The vvievv of the occupants of the car is thereby obstructed tothe least possible degree, and at the same time', the weight of the car is maintained at the minimum consistent with other advantages obtained. Various devices have been '15 proposed for this purpose,

byniyself. The present'inechanism lies in `this field of invention.

lts principal aim is to avoid weakening of the jamb rail of the door opposite the latch mechanism, this weakening having been found to be a disadvantage of a numberoi' inventions made for the purpose. Ancillary objects are the simplification and cheapening of the latch, and the simplitication of the mechanical movements of its parts, .with their resultant improvement in the ease ot operation of the latch and a reduction of the wear and tear imposed by continuous usage.v

These advantages` and others which `will be more fully apparent upon an uiiderstaiidinfi,`

of my invention and are therefore best re'- cited at the close of this specification, l attain by rorganizing the latch mechanism to embodyv an interlocking device between the inside and outside latch operating mechanisms which characterize this type ofv latch,

-, 'upoiithe.door post in such manner as to partake of movement in the vertical piane as I Adistinguished .from movement in the hori- 40 zoiital plane. Certain other movements have been tried ,when interlocking -devices of this character have 'been mounted upon the post. l prefer to make this interlocking` device, when so mounted upon vthe post and-given l this characteristic movement, in such form as to constitute it also the keeper of the latch mechanism, that is, that part of the latch mechanism which coacts with the latch bolt to effect latch engagement. lfVith the intermechanisin so embodied, the -i'emaining parts et' the latch mechanism und the 'mechanical movements there# ci; become remarkabiy simple.

a number of them member 18 in a One embodiment of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawiii s, in which Big. is -a horizontal section of the latch mechanism at large;

Fig 2 is a three-quarter :trontpersjgaective` view of the interlocking member as mounted on the post;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the inside latch operating mechanism and Fig. 4 is a similar View of the outside of the latch operating\,mechanism. in each of the latter instances shown in connection" with thejamb rail of the door in connection with which the mechanism is mounted.

The jamb rail of the door is designated i by numeral 10 and is of pressed metal construction of a form, at the latch,I commonly .known as a double-Z section. In this form,

the main body of the raii is oi a single thickness of stamped metal and comprises two transversely extending portions, the one 11 and the other 12, interconnected by a middle, longitudinally extending portion 13 which latter constitutes a rabbet in the' rail. At the opposite ends ot the main body 10, 11, 12, are provided oppositely extending anges 14 and 15 constituting.respectively the door overlap adapted to close the crack in .the door janib and make a neat joint with the door post, and *adjectiveI as a means of support for the latch-beard 16. Connected with the outer overlap Pt is the outer panel 17 of the door, and 15 are other devices beside the latch-board 16 (not shown inthe interest 'of brevity and clear-ness). a i

T he opposite rail of thegdcor, the hinge rail, is (if-'somewhat similar, though simpliconnected with the inner Hangefied, construction, and it is'iiot shown herein the extensible member 18 in the form of the transparent windowpane, adapted to close the window of the door when in raised position. This window-pane is adapted to' be raised and lowered by any of the usual mechanisms. lts 'Width is' substantially the tuli Width of the body of the door. lts side edge 19 vis arranged to slide in roximity to the face of the 'amb rail 10 otPthe-door. This is accomplis ed by mounting the extensible giass run channel 20 formed Ill by an angle stri p 2l secured directlyto the body l of the jainb ail and 'confining the extensible member 18 between itself and the ranbet section lll ofthe jamb rail. The ex-.

tensible member may, in such ease, be truly Said to lic over again -1t the vinner face of the jamb rail.

The door post is designated 9.2. lt, too, is ot` pressed metal 'form and ot channel erosseection. On the side wall otE the channcl cross-section is mounted the interlock iner iucuiber 23. This interlocking member has a main body Q4 disposed iii,the space lict'ween they jamb tace ol the rail lt) and the jainb l'aee of the post lt supported and guided by its projection 25 into a slot 2G t'ormed in the side wall ot the post. 'l'lie projection is secured to a vertically cxtending` retaining bar 2T adapted ilor .sliding engagement' with the interior face, ol' the side wall ot' the post, connection being made in this instance b v screws 28 shown in Fig. 2. 'lhe slot 2li is elongated. but the sliding ineinher 2T still further elongated. whereby it not onlv retains the interlocking` member 2l in place. lint aligns it as well. The inner and outer ends ot' the interlocking;r member project beyond the side wallsy ol slot 2G and bear upon the outer tace ot the post whereby to provide more sliding' hearings for the member. The ensemble is normally retained in its lower position b v the spiral springi` 2f) bearing on the upper end of member 27 and confined in position b v a tab El() pressed out ot the body of the 4bridge member 3l Secured to the inner tace ot the side wall. The pui'- pose ot' this bridging' is primarily to retain the sliding' member 2T in place should the interloeking member 2l be removed.

The opposite side ot the post 22 is similarly provided with an aperture 2U and it is to be understood that a duplicate set ot' the parts described and to be described may be provided in connection with the opposite laide ol' the post whereby two adjacent doors may be latelied to the same post by shutting them toward each other.

'llie interlocking member 24 is of a form adapting it to constitute a keeper lor the reinainder of the latch mechanism now to be described. To this end, its outer portion is oi lgently tapering forni. adapting it for accommodation in the interior space Bil of the door janib tion 13. llie under side tits outer end and is chanitered upwardly at 32 for a purpose presently apparent. lts inner portion l-i tapers more abruptly. adapting: it tor more eft'ectivc coaetion with the latch bolt'. This inner portion lies within the wider space :l of the door janib lyingr within the iahbet portion 13. By reason of the more generous space in this region, the parts may be given more generous proportions.

The inside and outside latch operating lying without the iabbet por- Lesmse mechanisms coact with this interlocking keeper. The inside latch operating inecha nisin is designated generally lt coinprises a horizontal sliding latch bolt 3i', the latch end 38 et' which is projected through a slot in the body of rail l() to coact with the inner end 3l of the keeper. The inner end 3S) ol the latch holt is bit'ui'cated to stradtlle thc pivot pin 4l() and block lll whichiiionnt the vertically extending lever 4Q. Betweenv the inner end ol the bifurcation ot' the bolt 3T and/tbe block lll is confined a bolt spring which biases the bolt outwardly at all times to the limit permitted b v stop illl rl`lie lever 4:2 is a bell crank lever having' an upper arm ll adapted for the recept ion ot a haii- (llc (not shown) and a lower arin 45. The lower arm is projected through an elongated slot flti in the body ol the jamb rail l0 and underlies the inner end 3l ot the interlocle i ingl keeper 2l. rlhe bottoni ot slot. 46 limits the downward movement of the arm under thc pressure of the spring 29 which forces the keeper Jl to its lower position and thus prevents` thisA lever trom returning. Spring 4T holds the arm 45 down when the door open. Tabs 47 struck from base plate 4.8 are guider,` above and below pivot 40. The base plate 4ta is, ae shown, mounted in the angle between the branch l2 ot the jamb rail and the inner t'lange. l5. Any suitable means of mounting` maybe used.

llie outer latch operating device. is designated generally 49. lts base plate 5() coinprises a iii-.iin body substantially parallel to the outer panel of the door and ti'vo transversely bent flanges 5l and The branch 52 is secured to the portion ll ol the jamb rail to mount the base in position. Its reverselv inner end 523 contines between it and the flange 52. a v crti 'ally i'cciprocable slide 5:4. This slide is provided on its outside with a lirel 523 underlying the outer end 32 ot' the interlocking member 2l, and con-- net'ted with the body 54 ot the Slide through an elongated slot 56 whereby the slide may partake ot`tlie vertical movement necessary to effect vertical movement ot' interlocking device Q4. Slide. 54 is also provided with an inwardly extending lug 57, in this case project-ed through correspondingly elongated slot 5S in the i'eversely bent branch 53l ot' the flange 52. i

'.lhis inner lingr 57 is engaged by the oscillatineT arm 5t) of the oscillatable spindle t5() journaled in the ieversely bent flange 5l and base plate and connected exteriorly with the handle G1 on the outside of the door.

So organized, the parts operate as follows: It being desired to open the door from the outside, the handle 6l is grasped and rotated counterclockwise (in the embodiment shown in the drawing). Arm 59, engaging lug 57, translates its movement of oscillaifi to prevent excessive reverse movement assenso tion into a movement of vertical reciprocation of the slide 54. This, in turn, through the lug 55,imparts a vertical movement tothe interlocking keeper 24.-. Through such movement, the inhernbolt engaging end 34: of the keeper iselevatsd clear of the bolt 37 of the inner mechanism 36 Without iinparting any movement Whatever to this holt. The latch disengaging movement is therefore independent of that holt. rllhe door may then be swung open. Upon the release l of the handle 6i, the spring 60", and gravity or either of them return the slide 54e, the oscillating arm 59 and the handle 6l to normal `position against the stop 62 provided of the handle 61.

It being desired to open the door from the inside, the lever 44 is grasped and moved counter-clockwise to oscillate' the arm 45 upwardly. This, through its engagement with the inner end .i3d of the interlocking n'einber 24, also raises the interlocking niemher in the vertical plane likewise freeing it from engagement with the holt 3i' without movement of that holt whereupon the door may be pushed open. Upon release of lever A44:, it is returned' byA gravity to its normal position, or a light spring 44 may be used for: that purpose.- A similarlight spring may he-'used in connection with the operating handle 61, so that when these parts are free from the biasingpressure. which the spring 29 imposes-on the interlocking member 24;,

either of such openings,

they are retained in determinate normal po. sition.

When it is desired to close lthe door after one has only to push it to closed position. So pushing' thebolt 37 lratchets past theinner endv 34 oi' the interlocking keeperI 24 (now restored to its normal position) and into the latchengaging position shown in full linesv in Fig. l.

In the movement of closing, the arm 45 of lever 42 and the lug 55 of the slide 54- succcssively pass beneath the under side of the interlocking keeper 24. Such passage is without interference since this keeper is upwardly inclined at its outer end 32 to permit an easy entry of the parte The latch mecllianism of my invention con-y tains but few parts, the latch engagement is generous, and the operation of the entire mechanism certain and sure. 'lhe advantages initially set forth are attained in the the under side of 'nlldegree sought. Those modiiications of my' invention not departing fromv its neric s irit are intended to be comprehen ed hyd t e attached claims es well as the embodiment herein shown. lcleinil L l. A latch mechanism for an automobile door adapted to have an extensible' portion or substantially the full Width of the body of the door arranged for slidable movement thereiny with the side edgethereof linl close proximity to the jainh face of the door, comprising inside and outside latch operating devices on opposite sides of the vprojected path of movement of said extensible member, an interlocking device extending i. from one latch operating device to the other adapted tobe carrie-d by the door post, and partaking of movement in thevertical plane in its interlocking function.

2. A latch mechanism for an automobile door adapted to have an extensible portion oit substantiallythe'full Width of the door f slidably arranged in said door comprising inside and outside latch operating devices on yopposite-sides of the projected path of .movement "of `said extensible member, an l interlocking device extending from one latchv operating device to the other and serving the purpose of a. latch keeper 'adapted to be carried by the door post and partaking of movement in the vertical plane in its inter-A locking function. A,

3. A latohinechanism for. an automobile' door adapted to have an extensibleportion of substantially the full Width of the body 'of the door arranged for sli'dable movement therein with the side edge thereof in lclose proximity to the jamb face of the door, comprising inside and devices on. opposite sides ofthe projected path of movement of said extensible meinber, and an interlocking device extending from one latch operating device adapted to be carried by the door partaking of terlocking function,

4. A latch mechanism for an automobile door adapted to, ha\'e an extensible portion foi substantially the. full lwidth of the door slidably arranged in said door, comprising inside and outside latch operating devices on opposite sides 'of the projected'path of movement oi said extensible member, an

interlocking device serving -the purpose of,

a latch keeper extending from one latch opciatingv device to the other and adapted to he carried by the door post and to .partake outside latch operating Y "to the other`f post and; a sliding movement in ,its-in of movement in the vertical plane in its in,

terlocking` function, and a latch bolt .coacting with said keeper independently oi' the latch operating devices.

5L A latch mechanism 'for anautomobile of substantially the tullwidth of the body door adapted to have an extensible portionl dlt el: the door arranged i'or slidahle movement therein with the side edge thereof in close proximity to the jarnb face of the door, comprising inside and outside latch operating;r deviceson opposite sides oi the projected path of movement of said extensible 'memher, an interlocking device partaking olf movement. in the vertical plane in its inter- Ilocking function extending trom one latch operating device to the other and adapted to be carried by Athe door post, said inten looking device being biased in one direction by spring pressure and enacting with said latch operating devices to elect .its moved ment in the opposite 'direct-ion.

6. A latch mechanism for an automobile door adapted to have an extensible portion of' substantially thelull width ol. the body of the door arranged for slidable movement'l .therein with the side edge thcreolE in close proximity to the jamb face of the door, comprisingf inside and outside latch operating; devices on opposite sides of the projected path of movement of said extensible member, and an interlocking device extendingfrom one latch operating?,l device to the other `ada )ted to be `arried by the door post, said latch operating:r devices embodying vertically moving members engaging;v the interlocking device to etlect movement thereof in the vertical plane.

7. A latch mechanism for an automobile door adapted to have an extensible portion of substantially the full width of the hod'v7 ol the door arranged for slidable movement therein with the side edge thercol' in close proxin'iity to the jamb face ot the d'oor, com prieingl inside and outside latch operatingA `devices on opposite sides of the projected path or' movement et said extensible nicmher, and an interim-king device evtl-inlinefrom one latch operating device to the other adapted to hc carried by tinx door postV and partaking' ol' movement in the vertical planc in its interlocking l'unctiou. said latch operating devices indepcml-cntlv coacling with` the interlocking device.

8. A latch mechanism for au automobile door adapted to have an cxtcnsiblc portion ot substantially thc i'ull width ol' the bod)Y ol' thc door arranged for .slidable movcnwnl therein with the side cdnc thcrcot' in close prrjiximitv to the jamb tace ol' thc door` conn prisintf inside and outside latch oiarai'inif devices ou opposite sidcs of the projected path o'l' niovenicnt of; said cxieihiiblc momn ber, au interlockinpr device extending' from one latch operating` device to thc other adapted to bc carried b v the door post and lnlrtaking oi' nmvennmt in the vertical plane in its interlockingr functioin one ol said latch operating' devices engaging the imerlockinr neaaeeo device through a movement of rcciprocation and the other latch opeiating; device engaghm` the interlocking device thi-(nigh a move ment o'lf oscillation.

Si. A latch mechanism for an automobih` door adapted to have an extensible portion oli substantially the liull \vidth of the bod ol' the door arranged Alor slidable movement therein with the side edge thcrco'i' in close proximity to the jamh lace olf the door. "omprising inside and outside latch operating devices on opposite sides of the projected path off n'iovcment oi' said extensible member7 and an interlocking dcvicc extending' Jlrom one latch operating device to thc other adapted to hc carried by the door post and partakiirgr olI movement in the vertical plain` in its interlocking function. one of said latch .i] icratin 1 devices emlaidvintr an oscillatahle member cfl'ectintr an operative connection with the intcrlockilmr device` throupjh a mcmbcr which tranfslatcs said oscillatory movcment into a reciprocating' movement.

lt). A latch mechanism 'l'or au automol.-il;b door adapted to have an extensible portion of substantially the Al'ull width ol' the bodv ol thel door arranged 'for slid-able movement thcrem with the side edge thcreol' m close proximit v to the janrh face ol the door` comprisine` a latch bolt, iixed iii-vertical posh tion, inside and outside latch operatingl dcvices on opposite sides of the projet-ttul path ol' movement` oll said cxtcnsihlc mcmbcr, and an interlocking device extel'idine' from onc lat-ch operating device to the other adapted 1o be carried b v the door poet and partakingg, of a sliding' movement in its interlocking function. said interlocking dcvicc being in the lform oi a keeper coactingf with said latch bolt'. and said keeper and .raid latch bolt pnl-takingl o'l relative horizontal movcmcut to cllccl latch engagement and relative vertical movement to ell'ect` latch discngago nicnl.

ll. latch mechanism l'or an automobile door adapted to have an cxlensibo portion of nubstantially the l'ull width ol' thc bodv ol' the door arranged for sliilablc movcmcnl thcrcin with the side edge tbcrcol' iu close proximity to the jamb l'acc ol' the door. comprising inside and outside latch operating dcviccs on opposite sides ol thc projected path ol' movement of' said extensible mcmber, and an interlocking.; device cnt-ending lrom one hitch operating device to thc other adapted to serve as a latch keeper and to have a vertical slidingy movement; upon the iamh face of a door poet.

In tcstin'iony whereof l hereunto allix my signature.

JOSEPH LEDWNKA. 

